Electron-discharge device



Nov. 17, 1925. 1,562,172

w. G. HoUsKEEPER ELECTRON DI SCHARGE D EVICE F'led Au 30, 1920 /i A Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES ,PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. EOUSKEEPER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN `ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRON-DISCHARGE DEVICE.

Application led August 30, 1,920. Serial No. 406,921.

To all wlwm it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. HOUS- xnnrnu, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electron-Discharge Devices," of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to electron discharge devices and has particular reference to the electrode structure thereof.

An object of the invention is the pro- .4 vision of an electrode structure which will permit of a much greater' dissipation of heat therefrom than is usually the case.

, Another object is the provision of an elec# trode structure which 1s capable of being cooled by a circulating medium such as water.

Another object is the provision of a fluid cooled electrode structure which is provided with a smooth symmetrical inner surface for the reception of the electron stream.

Another object is the provision of an electrode unit which is rigid and compact and which can be easily assembled. in its complete form prior to its insertion in the tube.

In accordance with the above mentioned objects, the invention comprises a closely wound coil of hollow tubing in the form of a hollow cylinder in which the inner surfaces between the tubing are filled in with a material in such a manner that the inner surface of the cylinder is presented tothe electron stream as a smooth symmetrical surface. In this respect any irregularity in the functioning of the electron stream because of its encountering an irregular surface is eliminated.

The invention further comprises a new and improved mountingfor the electrodes, such as the grid and filament, which is adapted for general use in vacuum tubes but is particularly advantageous in the herein described tube. The construction of this mountin will readily be apparent from a consi eration of the following detailed description.

The invention as illustrated in the drawing comprises a containin vessel 1 provided with the usual press 2. cathode 3 and a helical control electrode 4 are provided and suitably supported from the press 2. This 6, and to the upper surface of the plate i are attached hooks 8 through which the filament is threaded as shown. The hooks 8 in block 6 pass loosely through apertures in' the block 6 and are suitably connected to and tensioned by means of springs 8. Extending between the upper plate 6 and lower plate 7 are a plurality of vertical wires 9 which form a frame around which the control electrode wire 4 is wound and to which this wire is welded. The upper ends of thc wires 9 pass through apertures in the plate 6, which are so dimensioned as to allow the wires 9 to expand under heat. The lower ends of the wires 9 are ri idly fastened to plate 7. The springs 8 an the comparatively free ends of the wires 9 are placed at the top of the electrode mounting in this position. They are located at the relatively coolest position of the tube and their temper is not so affected by the heat. This position also permits of a more ready assembly than if they were located at the bottom. The lower end of the rod 5 extends through and below the lower plate 7 and is seated in an aperture in al cross-bar 10 which is made up of a pair of flat plates. The ends of the bar 10 are flanged and welded to T bars 11 and 12 which in turn at their lower ends are welded to a collar 13 which embraces the press 2. Suitable lead-in wires 14, 15 and 16 are connected to the cathode and control electrodes respectively.

Around the cathode and control electrode in a cylinder concentric with the axis of the rod 5 is an anode 17 formed of hollow tubing 18 in the form of helix. The successive convolutions of the tubing 18 are placed closely adjacent each other so as to forni substantially a solid wall. The ends of the tubing 18 extend in the form of pipes 19 through the upper end of the evacuated vessel 1l to the exterior where they may be connected to a suitable source of circulatingr medium and also act as electrical conductors f for the electron current. Sleeves 21, of metal such as platinum are sealed into the glass and welded near one end to the pipes 19,and 20 and are provided to make an effective seal with the glass especially in the case where the material of which .the anode 17 is formed will not seal with glass directly. By means of this invention it is possible to dissipate 400 watts of energy per s uare inch of plate surface as compared with 40 watts with the ordinary tube design where no cooling medium is employed.A The metal tubing of the anode may for example. be of iron, copper, nickel or steel. l

In order to provide that the inner surface of the anode is presented to the electron stream in the form of a smooth symmetrical surface it is the purpose of my invention to lill in the spaces between the `inner convolutions of the tubinff 18 withsome metal which can be flowed therein and which-has a melting point essentially lower than the melting point of the material from which the tubes are made. For example, iron tubing may be used and the filler may be of copper, or copper tubing may be used and the filler may be silver, or wrought iron may be used and the filler may be of cast iron. The advantage of using this filler metal lies in the fact that it may be machined land adapted to exact dimensions and present a true plane or true cylindrical surface, besides being in good heat conducting contact with the cooling liquid circulating in tubing 18. It is within the scope of the invention, althouvh it is not shown, to wind this hollow tubbing in the form of a plan electrode. This Vhollow plane electrode may then be filled in on both sides with the soft filler metal.

What is claimed is:

l. An electron discharge device comprising a containing vessel, an electrode With-v in said vessel in the form of a hollow cylinder, said electrode being formed of a plurality of closely spaced convolutions of circular tubing adapted for the flow of circulating medium therethrough, the interior faces of said convolutions being illed in with a material capable of being machined,

and a second electrode within said first electrode.

2. An electron discharge device comprising a containing vessel, an electrode wlthin said vessel comprising a plurality of closely aced convolutions of circular tubing, a

ler for the inner faces of the convolutions,

and a 'second4 electrode within said first electrode.

3. An electron discharge device comprising a containing-vessel, acathode, a id, an anode within said vessel, thev cat ode and grid being disposed symmetrically within the anode, said anode comprising a plurality of closely spaced convolutions of hollow tubing in the form of a hollow cylinder, the innerv wall of which comprises a metallic illing.

4. An electron discharge device comprising a containing vessel, a press within the vessel, a cathode and grid supported from said press along the principal axis of said vessel, a tubular anode disposed around said ,cathode and grid, said anode being formed the inner faces of the adjacent turns ofl the helix forming a smooth lining, a cathode associated with said anode and means for circulating a cooling Huid through said tubing.

n witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this23rd day of August A. D., 1920. i

WILLIAM G. HOUSKEEPER. 

